§ 12. Mr. EDWARD WILLIAMSasked the Home Secretary what weekly remuneration, if any, was paid to the Metropolitan special constabulary for personal service and for horse-hire during the recent demonstrations?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo weekly remuneration was paid to the Metropolitan special constabulary for personal service or for horse-hire during the recent demonstrations. Expenditure was incurred by the Commissioner to the amount of £47 6s. in respect of the hire of horses supplied for the use of special constables.
§ 19. Earl WINTERTONasked the Home Secretary what was the cost to public funds of the special police arrangements necessitated by the three demonstrations recently organised in London by the body of persons calling themselves hunger marchers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI would refer my right hon. Friend to the information on this point contained in the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. G. Peto).
§ 20. Mr. STOURTONasked the Home Secretary if, in view of the public concern caused by the recent demonstrations of the unemployed marchers in London, the strain imposed on the police, and the 484 opportunities given for the creation of civil disturbances, he will now state if he intends to take measures to prevent similar concentrations from outside the Metropolitan area in future?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs I informed my hon. Friend last week, the matter is under consideration, but there are a number of related questions which have to be taken into account, and I cannot at present say when it may be possible to make any statement on the subject.
§ Mr. STOURTONIs my right hon. Friend aware that these demonstrations have a very bad effect on our prestige abroad, and does he realise that all decent citizens strongly resent the exploitation of the genuine unemployed by Communists being tolerated by the Government?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI think it is the case that damage is done by reports of these occurrences abroad, but the ill effect of these reports may easily be exaggerated.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs the Communist organisation an illegal organisation, denied the rights that are allowed to other political bodies?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAll I can say is that when we find people are doing illegal acts we take steps to deal with them, as we are now doing.
§ 21. Earl WINTERTONasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the facilities available in the Royal parks and open spaces of London for public demonstrations, he will prohibit processions of persons with banners to and from these demonstrations in order to avoid dislocation of traffic and disorder?
§ 22. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Home Secretary what steps the Government propose to take to protect the genuine unemployed from being incited to illegal activities by Communist agitators subsidised from abroad; and whether the Government will consider as to the strengthening of the law as to processions in London and other cities which obstruct traffic and interfere with the freedom of the general public in the use of the streets?
§ Sir J. GILMOURProceedings can be and have been taken on various occasions recently against persons for offences of the nature indicated in the first part of 485 the question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison). As regards the holding of processions, I am considering whether any further powers are required to strengthen the existing law.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs it not a fact that a procession is now illegal as causing an obstruction? I do not understand. Is it legal for any body of persons to march through the streets at any time?
§ Sir J. GILMOURUnder certain restrictions and if they obey the orders of the police controlling traffic, they can do so, certainly.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes my right hon. Friend not realise the urgency of this matter, seeing that it is now admitted that these processions were directly organised by the Third International; and having regard not only to the exploitation of the unemployed but the great inconvenience to the workers of this country who are unable to reach their homes owing to the dislocation of traffic, ought not the matter to be pushed forward as soon as possible?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI do not think there has been any unnecessary delay in dealing with it.